ISU’s Nelson wins race, just not officially

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

DES MOINES - Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep Meaghan Nelson finished first and received the commemorative mini Drake Relays flag.

Iowa State teammates and coaches treated her to high fives and hugs after she beat the rest of the women's university-college 5,000-meter field late Thursday in 16:27.55.

Why, then, is Nelson not the official winner? Because recurring hamstring problems forced her to red-shirt and she entered as an unattached runner.

“I got a flag,” said Nelson, who saw Nebraska's Martina Barinova named the official winner in 16:28.77. “It's on my bookshelf in my room right now. I don't have an exact location for it, but I'm sure I'll find somewhere to put it because it's kind of cool. I never really thought about getting one in high school, so it's kind of neat to have a little Drake flag now.”

Nelson retains two seasons of eligibility for both cross country and track and feels healthier than she has for months.